Looking after your prostate

It’s time to talk about your prostate. If you’re getting up several times to pee during the night you could have an enlarged prostate gland. This is normally treatable and a visit to your doctor will help put your mind at ease. Enlarged prostate affects 50% of men over 50. Many men dismiss symptoms, putting them down to getting older.

If the prostate enlarges the flow of urine can become obstructed causing slow or stop-start urination. Symptoms include:

• A weak stream of urine.

• Straining to pass urine or urination takes a long time.

• Stop/start urination where the urine appears to have finished and then re-starts again.

• Frequent trips to the toilet, both in the day and through the night.

• An urgent need to pass urine, sometimes with a little leaking at the first sign of wanting to go.

Symptoms can lead to irritability, anxiety, loss of sex drive and can have a significant, negative impact on the quality of life. It interrupts sleep and often that of your partner. If left untreated it can lead to an increased risk of serious and expensive long-term complications such as acute retention of urine, kidney and bladder conditions, and hospitalisation.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, please do visit your doctor and get a diagnosis of exactly what the problem is. If you have an enlarged prostate your doctor may prescribe medication, or surgery.

A healthy diet and lifestyle will help to keep you and your prostate healthy. Avoid high saturated fats, sugar and caffeine. Reduce salt, white processed breads, and pastries. Alcohol and smoking both contribute to inflammation and should be avoided.

Eat plenty of vegetables, nuts, seeds, oily fish as well as foods that contain zinc. These foods include shellfish, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, pecan nuts, fish, and eggs. Alcohol interferes with the uptake of zinc another reason to avoid alcohol.

To maintain prostate health you could consider A. Vogel Saw Palmetto tincture. Take a multivitamin that contains zinc, and Omega 3 oils and you’re well on your way to keeping your prostate healthy.

Excess weight will increase the severity of the symptoms, while regular exercise will help you to lose those extra pounds and help improve the condition.

So look after yourself and visit your doctor for a check-up if you’re worried. You’ll be glad you did.